Many IELTS Reading candidates lose marks because of one tricky label: Not Given. It is frustrating because it feels like the answer is “somewhere,” but you cannot prove it. The truth is simple: Not Given means the passage does not give enough information to confirm the statement is true or false.

 The main reason candidates miss Not Given is over-thinking. They use their real-world knowledge and try to fill gaps. For example, if a statement sounds logical, they mark True. If it sounds unlikely, they mark False. But IELTS Reading is not about logic. It is about evidence in the text. Another common reason is confusing “not mentioned” with “opposite.” False means the passage clearly contradicts the statement. Not Given means the passage stays silent or incomplete on that exact point.

If the passage only talks generally, and the statement is very specific, Not Given becomes likely. A practical method is the “proof test.” After reading the statement, scan the passage for the matching location. Then ask one question: Can I point to a sentence that proves it? If yes, it is True. Can I point to a sentence that directly says the opposite? If yes, it is False. If neither is possible, it is Not Given. Be careful with words that change meaning, such as always, only, all, never, mainly, and the most.

These words make statements stronger, so they require strong proof. If the passage uses softer language like “often” or “may,” then a strong statement like “always” is usually False or Not Given. Also watch for time and numbers. If the passage says “in recent years,” but the statement says “in 2010,” the passage may not support that exact detail. Candidates often ignore these small mismatches.

 To improve, practise True/False/Not Given questions with a strict rule: do not answer until you locate the matching part of the passage. Use IELTS Reading mock tests and review mistakes carefully. For every wrong answer, write one line explaining why it was not proved or contradicted. This trains your brain to respect text evidence. Not Given is not a trick if you treat the passage like a courtroom. No proof, no verdict. That mindset pushes your score up.